My asthma always gets worse in summer. I use my inhalers more as my doctor advised, but they don’t seem to help. My mouth often feels sore as well. Any suggestions?

AI WONDER WHETHER YOU ARE USING YOUR INHALERS PROPERLY? A SURVEY BY ASTHMA UK SHOWED THAT A THIRD OF PEOPLE WITH ASTHMA WEREN’T USING THEIR INHALER IN THE RIGHT WAY. IN MOST CASES THE MEDICINE WAS EITHER STAYING ON THE TONGUE, OR IN THE MOUTH, OR JUST HITTING THE BACK OF THE THROAT, MEANING IT’S NOT REACHING THE LUNGS, WHERE IT’S NEEDED. USING THE WRONG TECHNIQUE CAN ALSO MEAN YOU’RE MORE LIKELY TO GET SIDE EFFECTS, SUCH AS ORAL THRUSH, WHICH CAN LEAD TO MOUTH SORENESS. SEE THE NURSE AT YOUR SURGERY, WHO CAN CHECK YOUR TECHNIQUE. IN THE MEANTIME, CHECK FOR COMMON MISTAKES, WHICH ARE NOT BREATHING OUT FULLY BEFORE YOU USE YOUR INHALER, AND NOT HOLDING YOUR BREATH FOR A SHORT TIME AFTERWARDS.